5 big teams who could fail to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup
With a little over nine months left before the 2018 FIFA World Cup kicks off in Russia, only a handful of qualifiers remain to decide the final 32 teams. Apart from the hosts, a total of seven teams have now confirmed qualification, with some sealing their spot in the recently concluded international break.
Brazil, Belgium and Mexico are the sole representatives from their confederation so far while Asia sees four teams - Iran, Japan, South Korea, and Saudi Arabia - progressing to the World Cup finals. All these teams have taken part in a World Cup before.
However, the qualification process has thrown up a few surprising results which now sees some big teams (including World Cup winners of years past) now nervously waiting for the final round of fixtures.
1) Netherlands
It's hard to imagine that a country that are three-time finalists and the birthplace of Total Football could miss out on the quadrennial competition. In 2010 they finished runners-up to Spain. In 2014 they finished third.
In 2018 they could be watching it all unfold in Russia from the comfort of their living room.
Qualifying from a UEFA group is no easy task. But Netherlands have made it so with some uninspiring football (and results) in the qualification process.
The Dutch currently occupy third place in Group A with two more games to go. That is a position they will not want to be in after the 10th and final game as only the top two stand a chance of qualifying.
The group topper qualifies directly for the World Cup group stages while the second-placed team will have to advance to a second round of two-legged playoffs.
Who do they play next?
Netherlands' last two games are against Belarus (away) and Sweden (home). The final game could be a virtual semi-final to see who goes through along with France.
The superior French side already have one foot in the World Cup and are scheduled to play Bulgaria and Belarus. Sweden play Luxembourg (whose record suggests the Scandinavian side could also seal qualification thanks to a superior goal difference.
The Dutch must rely on other results going their way while winning their remaining games if they are to qualify. And only the eight best runners-up from the nine groups qualify so even second place may not be enough.